Some candidates in the ongoing 2024 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Elections have taken an early lead in the elections, even as the elections head towards the home stretch.

In the race for the coveted NBA Presidency, Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN is currently leading the pack, posting 15,850 votes as against the votes garnered by his two opponents. Incumbent Chairman of the NBA-ICLE Governing Council, Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe is currently posting 8,837 votes while the Chairman of the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN is posting 7,894 votes.

For the position of NBA First Vice President, Mr. Sabastine Anyia is currently leading the 6-man field with 9,659 votes, followed by former NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman, Mr. Bartholomew Aguegbodo with 5,629 votes. While Mr. Williams Soseipiriye and Dr. Promise Iwezor are running neck-and-neck with 4,537 votes and 4,504 votes respectively, Mr. Reginald Ugwuadu has garnered 2,646 votes. Former NBA Obollo-Afor Chairman, Dr. Gerald Abonyi brings the rear with 2,590 votes.

The positions of Second Vice President, Third Vice President and General Secretary may pose an uphill task for some candidates due to the significant gaps in the votes garnered by the respective candidates.

While former NBA Lagos Branch Vice Chairman Bolatumi Animashaun maintains a hefty lead (21,166 votes) against her opponent (9,344 votes), the same is true of Zainab Aminu Garba who has posted 19,049 votes as against 11,333 votes garnered so far by Mr. Michael Olorunmola.

Former NBA Ilorin Branch Chairman, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara is also maintaining a near unassailable lead of over 11,000 votes against his opponent, Mr. Abdulwasiu Alfa. While Ojibara has garnered 20,919 Votes, Alfa has so far posted 9,528 votes.

The same scenario seems to be playing out in the Assistant General Secretary race, with Mr. Henry Barnabas Ehi virtually coasting home to victory with over 16,000 vote gap. Ehi has garnered 23,272 votes while Oluwaseun Aka has posted 6,683 votes so far.

A similar scenario is also playing out in the race for Assistant Publicity Secretary where Ebiere Emmanuella Ekpese has shown dominance over her opponent, Mr. Lawrence Ayewa. Ekpese has received about 13,000 more votes than her opponent, posting 23,416 votes as against Ayewa’s 6,714 votes.

Some candidates are showing dominance in the race for the positions of Treasurer and Publicity Secretary. Blessing Udofa-Poromon is leading the pack in the race for Treasurer with 14,592 votes as against 8,913 votes for Chukwuemeka Mbamala. Caroline Obi has so far garnered 7,651 votes.

The same is true of the race for the position of Publicity Secretary where legal blogger Bridget Edokwe is leading the field with 15,872 votes. Incumbent Assistant Publicity Secretary Charles Ajiboye has posted 9,016 votes while immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary Ferdinand Naza has garnered 6,271 votes.

While a similar scenario is playing out in the race for Welfare Secretary, the margin of about 4,600 votes is less than that for the positions of Treasurer and Publicity Secretary. Auta Nyada is leading with 15,155 votes, while Oaikhena Osagie and Ernest Uwanaka trail with 10,421 votes and 4,609 votes respectively.

However, with 72, 071 eligible voters on the Voters’ List and about nine hours to the close of the ballot, it remains to be seen who will ultimately coast home to victory.

On the other hand, there is no heat on the candidates for the positions of NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar (GCB) as the positions are unopposed.

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